“12 years ago today, the Gotham Rogues made their debut in The Dark Knight Rises 🎬.”

Presenting my finished colored pencil drawing of Pittsburgh Steelers legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger! — Alex Nicholson.

Recently on the Alpha 5 Podcast, I had an incredible conversation with Ben Roethlisberger, aka “Big Ben.” 🏈 We delved into what it was like for him to be a rookie quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ben shared how he faced the challenges of being a newcomer in such a high-pressure role. Instead of relying on words, he let his actions speak. He showed his team they could trust him by making those crucial first downs, fighting for a few extra yards, and, most importantly, winning games. His determination and ability to deliver on the field were instrumental in gaining the trust and respect of his teammates early on.

Tune in to hear more about Ben’s journey and how his actions spoke louder than words in overcoming obstacles and leading his team to success. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to learn from one of the greats! 🎧✨

Recently on the Alpha 5 Podcast, I had an incredible conversation with Ben Roethlisberger, aka "Big Ben." 🏈 We delved into what it was like for him to be a rookie quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ben shared how he faced the challenges of being a newcomer in such a… pic.twitter.com/p2RmniWSG8

— Bruce Gradkowski (@bgradkowski5) July 11, 2024

He was an incredible defensive mastermind. His zone blitz schemes stymied offenses during the championship runs in the 2000s. It helped that he had tremendous talent in those units. It isn’t surprising that LeBeau had a hand in drafting defensive players. What is unusual is to hear that he played a part in drafting an offensive player, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

“Ben Roethlisberger was an exception. In fact, the only offensive player I ever really stood on the table for was him. Roethlisberger had a good (college) team around him with skilled players, but none were NFL guys. It was amazing watching him, and I thought, This guy is going to be a fantastic professional football player.”

The game that solidified it for LeBeau was the 2003 MAC Championship. It was below freezing and Roethlisberger led his team to victory unfazed. From there, LeBeau knew Roethlisberger could handle the AFC North. He knew the Steelers were drafting early that year as well, 11th overall, and were looking to get a quarterback.

“I spoke a couple of times and said, ‘I think Ben can’t miss. When you hired me, I believed my opinion was what came along with it.’ The last meeting before the draft had all the scouts and all the coaches. Bill Cowher said, ‘We’re going to go through this one more time. I want to hear what everybody is going to say.’ He turned and looked at me and said, ‘Except you, LeBeau. I know how you […]

Thankful for all of the amazing people at Wind River Ranch who made it a special week for us.— Ben, Ashley, Benjamin Jr., Baylee & Bodie.

The boys at 12,000 feet! — Ben.